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FACES OF GUJARAT
A Photographic Portfolio
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The earthquake stricken area of Gujarat had historically been an area of princely kingdoms - each hardly bigger than a mediums size city today. The pomp and splendor of the Rajput princes was impressive, and the monuments which best convey this history are now the surviving palaces - many of which were seriously damaged in the earthquake. (Photo-courtesy Dr. Digvijay Sinh, Wankaner)
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11) The Chamber of Princes, 1937(courtesy Jamsaheb, Jamnagar)
all photographs (except as marked) © by Randolph Langenbach / UNESCO, 2001
Click on photos to enlarge
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One of the remarkable experiences in this mission was to witness the dignity of the people of the earthquake damage area in Kutch. With many having lost members of their families, and most of their possessions, there was nonetheless a remarkable stoic and dignified quality to all met on the journey. The photographs below are just a few taken of anonymous people which help to capture some of that experience.
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Because of the Hindu ritual of cutting ones hair after the death of a family member, the barbar shops were busy after the disaster - in makeshift shops along the road in Bachau after all buildings were destroyed.
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A worker from a village in Bachau to help remove the rubble.
BACHAU
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Families in a refugee camp. A grain miller who has set up his millagain after extracting it from the ruins of his shop.
KUTCH VILLAGES
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Five weeks after the earthquake, Dinesh Purstom Khatri, who lived in the house which used to stand at this site, had dug down and recovered his mother's body from the ruins. The cremation pyre had only just been lit a few minutes earlier, and standing beside his mother's cremation fire in the ruins of their house in Bhuj, . He found the photographs of his mother, which he is showing here, in the ruins. He was also in the house when the earthquake happened, and he was injured and spent three weeks in the hospital.
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Women were almost as frequently to be seen working on the breaking of concrete slabs as were men.
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BHUJ
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AHMEDABAD
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